ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has awarded a $429 million contract modification to Boeing for long-lead material and activities for 16 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The contract modification, awarded by Naval Air Systems Command, will support the procurement of…
F-35C Lightning II Fighter Achieves Initial Operational Capability
SAN DIEGO — The F-35C Lightning II, the aircraft carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, has met all requirements and has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC), the commander of Naval Air Forces and the deputy commandant of the Marine…
Navy to Commission Littoral Combat Ship Charleston
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy will commission its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship, the future USS Charleston (LCS 18), during a 10 a.m. ceremony on March 2 at Columbus Street Terminal in Charleston, S.C., the Defense Department said in a…
AN/AQS-20C Sonar System Completes Developmental Testing
PANAMA CITY, Fla. — The Navy completed developmental testing for the AN/AQS-20C mine-hunting sonar system at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), on Feb. 26, the Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants Public Affairs announced in…
Mercury Systems Receives $5.5M in Follow-on Orders from Navy for DRFM Jammers
ANDOVER, Mass. — Mercury Systems Inc. announced that it received an additional $5.5 million in follow-on orders against its previously announced $152 million five-year sole-source basic ordering agreement to deliver advanced Digital RF Memory (DRFM) jammers to the U.S. Navy….
Navy Picks BAE Systems to Develop Cyber Defenses
MCLEAN, Va. — The Navy has chosen BAE Systems to compete for future cyber-engineering task orders awarded under a seven-and-a-half-year, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, according to a BAE release. The contract is intended to be used by naval, joint and…
Navy Undersea Warfare Director: ‘We Cannot Be Out-Escalated’ in Nuclear Deterrence
WASHINGTON — The Navy’s director for undersea warfare said the nation’s nuclear submarine-based strategic deterrent is more important than ever and that the 12 planned Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs) are needed to sustain a credible strategic triad for the future….
Navy Admirals: SWO Proficiency Standards Toughened With New Checkpoints
WASHINGTON — The Navy’s efforts to improve training and the readiness of its surface warfare officers (SWOs) now include longer initial sea duty tours and a series of checkpoints that must be passed before an officer can command a ship….
CPI Aero Announces $8.1 Million Contract for E-2D Wing Kits From Northrop Grumman
EDGEWOOD, N.Y. — CPI Aerostructures Inc. has received a contract with a maximum value of $8.1 million from Northrop Grumman Corp. for outer wing panel kits used in the manufacture of complete wings for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, CPI Aero…
Construction Begins on Future LCS USS Canberra
MOBILE, Ala. – Construction on the future USS Canberra (LCS 30) began Feb. 22 in Austal USA’s module manufacturing facility, the company said in a release of the same date. Dave Growden, LCS program director, pushed the button to start…


